Joe Berger planning to play in 2018 even if not with the Minnesota Vikings
By Adam Carlson
Joe Berger was leaning towards retiring after the 2017 season, but the guard/center intends to return for 2018 even if it isn’t with the Minnesota Vikings.
Everyone has a change of heart sometimes. For NFL players, the decision of when to call their career over can be a tough call considering wear and tear during a season weighed against financial security and the desire to win a championship.
Last year, Joe Berger was one of the most reliable pieces of the Minnesota Vikings offensive line. According to Pro Football Reference, he played 99.82 percent of all offensive plays last year (1,114 snaps), which was the most of any player on either side of the football.
Even though Berger is still playing at a high level, he was contemplating retirement after the 2017 season. He will be 36 years old during the 2018 season if he does play and will be enjoying his 13th season in the league. And according to the Star Tribune, the Michigan Tech product will want to return for at least one more year.
More from The Viking Age
- 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
As of this publishing, Berger is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Despite his age, the guard/center should be an appealing option for any team looking to fill a hole on their offensive line for a short-term plug.
The Minnesota Vikings are one team that will need to find some bodies to fill out their offense. Both starting guards from last year, Berger and Nick Easton, are scheduled to become free agents and should be interested in retaining one, if not both, of these players.
However, there is a chance that Berger could be playing somewhere else. In the past, the Vikings have been willing to let him test free agency and that is something the team will likely do again despite their need at the position.
Next: 5 current Vikings that could be gone by next season
The future is up in the air for Joe Berger as the 2018 NFL season closes in. Free agency will be where it is determined where he plays his 13th season of professional football, even if there is still a chance he can return to the Minnesota Vikings.